Reason for a tough’ flu season's earlier start proves elusive

ROCKFORD — Health officials are reporting a rapid increase of influenza in the region and should know in a few weeks whether the surge represents the peak of this year’s flu season or whether the peak will occur later this winter.

ROCKFORD — Health officials are reporting a rapid increase of influenza in the region and should know in a few weeks whether the surge represents the peak of this year’s flu season or whether the peak will occur later this winter.

Winnebago County Health Department officials began their annual flu surveillance in October, which is typically when the season starts. They’ve seen an increase in flu reports since mid-November.

To gauge flu activity, the Health Department relies on voluntary reports from two participating hospitals, long-term care facilities and schools. As of Dec. 15, 562 total positive flu cases were reported for the 2012-13 flu season, and 305 of them were reported during the week of Dec. 9.

Reports typically lag by a week, so those numbers could be adjusted this week, said Kara Biery, the Health Department’s communicable disease supervisor. Still, this flu season is already busier than last year’s, which was mild and peaked in mid-March.

Biery said it’s difficult to identify why the flu is hitting so strong and early this year. International health officials have said this year’s vaccine is a good match for the strains that are circulating.

Even if you do get the flu after getting a flu shot, you’re less likely to experience severe complications.

“The surveillance is very clear. We are entering an early start to the flu season,” Health Department Administrator Mike Bacon said. “It’s too soon to know for sure how long it’s going to last or how severe it’s going to be. ... We’re concerned that our nation and our community could be facing a tough year.”

Bacon said this year’s flu season is showing similarities to the 2003-04 and 2009-10 seasons, which were more severe. The 2009-10 season was worse because of the H1N1 outbreak.

Ultimately, influenza is extremely unpredictable. It’s highly contagious, and people can transmit the flu even before they start showing symptoms. Officials recommend that people stay home at least 24 hours after their fevers break.

“That’s just a further reminder to use the few tools we have to prevent the spread of the flu,” he said. “The first line of defense is vaccination. After that, it’s clean, cover and contain.”

Bacon said a strong flu-surveillance system and cooperation across health care agencies and organizations are also keys to preparedness. Hospitals help track influenza-like illnesses when people show up in the emergency department or doctors’ offices with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher and a cough or sore throat.

Each of Rockford’s three hospitals reported seeing an uptick in flu cases.

Traffic could continue to be steady after the holidays, when people travel and are exposed to more people who are sick or may be sick but not showing symptoms.

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“We just have to be diligent,” said Rene Chenore, manager of infection prevention at Rockford Health System. “We watch the surveillance very closely, and we let everyone know where we’re at and what we’re seeing.”

This year, health systems mandated that employees not vaccinated by Dec. 15 wear surgical masks as a precaution. People can still get the flu shot through local pharmacies, doctors’ offices and health departments.